Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§313 Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, sale, and trade in radio apparatus

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO › Part Part I— - General Provisions › § 313

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes U.S. antitrust laws apply to making, selling, and trading radio equipment and to radio communications that cross state lines or go to other countries. If a radio licensee is found guilty in a civil or criminal case of breaking those antitrust laws, a court can also cancel their radio license in addition to any other punishment. The court can set when the cancelation takes effect, and the licensee has the same right to appeal as in other cases. The Commission must refuse to grant a station license or a construction permit to anyone whose license was revoked this way, or to anyone they control.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §313

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)All laws of the United States relating to unlawful restraints and monopolies and to combinations, contracts, or agreements in restraint of trade are declared to be applicable to the manufacture and sale of and to trade in radio apparatus and devices entering into or affecting interstate or foreign commerce and to interstate or foreign radio communications. Whenever in any suit, action, or proceeding, civil or criminal, brought under the provisions of any of said laws or in any proceedings brought to enforce or to review findings and orders of the Federal Trade Commission or other governmental agency in respect of any matters as to which said Commission or other governmental agency is by law authorized to act, any licensee shall be found guilty of the violation of the provisions of such laws or any of them, the court, in addition to the penalties imposed by said laws, may adjudge, order, and/or decree that the license of such licensee shall, as of the date the decree or judgment becomes finally effective or as of such other date as the said decree shall fix, be revoked and that all rights under such license shall thereupon cease: Provided, however, That such licensee shall have the same right of appeal or review as is provided by law in respect of other decrees and judgments of said court.
(b)The Commission is hereby directed to refuse a station license and/or the permit hereinafter required for the construction of a station to any person (or to any person directly or indirectly controlled by such person) whose license has been revoked by a court under this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1960—Pub. L. 86–752 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

All executive and administrative functions of the Federal Trade Commission were, with certain exceptions, transferred to the Chairman of such Commission by Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 1950, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 313

Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73